Lubrication system



P F. GIESKIENG LUBRICATION SYSTEM March 26, 1940.

' Filed June 21, 1939 l E/ )htorney Patented This inventionrelates'to improvements in lubricating systems and has reference more particularly to ,a lubricating system vintended for use with locomotives and similar machines.

j A modern locomotivef is provided with a me- 'chanioal stoker, 'a boiler,-feedwater pump and an'air 'compressor, all ofwhich operate more or Qoperationrm less intermittently and-the air pump; in'addi tion 'to itsintermittent' operation, also operates a at'g'reat'ly difiierent speedsand this characteristic .1 feature of operationmakes'it 'difiicult to secure proper lubrication with the ordinary means now in use.

I It "is the lubrication onlywhen the machines are in actual f "Another. object of the I varied speeds such, for eXa'mple as-an ai1i .co1n -f pressor, that will. provide continuous lubrication andfat the same time-provide additional lubrica tion'when the compressor" is operating at-ahigh speed. 7

f Another object of this invention is to'produce' a lubricating system inwhich theoil is circulated bymeans. of a constantly operating pump and ln'whichthe oil fiows in a closed path at a very low pressure, exceptfduring such times assume machine connected to the. system is .to be lubricated in which casethe oil flow is" automatically diverted intothe machine under operation. a e The above'and other objectsthat may become apparent as this description proceeds are at-. tained by means .of a construction and an are I a rangementofparts that will now be described in grammatical manner and in which? detail and for this purpose reference will ,be, hadto the accompanying drawing in which the inven-,

tion hasbeen illustrated in amore or less dia-.

Figure 1 is a view showing ,thefvarious elements forming. the con'ibination,v in thelrelatio'nship which they occupyl and showing a portion of the apparatus in section;

of valve mechanism, and.

ifF gurejB isa d a ramm ic rep es ta o principal object; otthis invention to produce a lubricating, syst mthat can'be used in many different places; but which willbe de-" scribedin connection with a railway locomotive jg and associatedmachines and which shall be so .d'esignedT and constructed that itv will provide j.

invention. is to provide a system, of lubricationfithat"can (be manually controlled. as well asautomatically. v A still further obje'ct' offthi's invention is to provide a system of, lubrication that shall be; especially suited for a machine that operates'at Figure 2'is a section througl'fi a; modified form time's-when the Several eieinentS "c ris "the lubricating "system; V, a

- In the drawing reference numeral} designates a reservoir containingthe oil 6 which is employed inthe .lubrication;

the drawing a pipe m'anitoldl has been shownaand connected with this-manifold are 1 three pumps PI- PZ' and P3. These" pumps are constantly operating andmaybe of any suitable type such asga piston and a cylindentype or a- -"Irotary=:type. The intake port 1 of each pump is connected with 'the manifold-,7 by conduits as shown.-; S ince the three-mechanisms illustrated on the" drawing are practicallygidentical, thistle-- s'criptionjwillbe limited almost exclusivelyto the valve mechanism shown at the leftin Figure 1 and with 'which" thepump P] is connected. A

conduit-fliextends from the delivery port of the pump to a T pipe'fitting'which has been' de'signated by' referenjce: numeral 9. It -willibe;,ob'-

' servedthat conduitl8'is'conne cted with one end of this fitting :and that another conduit'flfl ex- 7 tends. from the other, end thereof. Conduit l 7 tonna e withthe engine ll which operates-the coal stoker -I2 and is providediwitha pressure relief valve 13 that normally prevents oil from flowing through the engine but whichjwill open and permit such flowl when the; pressure exceeds a predetermined amounuwhich'may vary to suit conditions. l

The lateral extension [4 of thetT Sis connected with a tubular'plug that in turnisthre'adedly connected with a va1ve,;body"|6. A removable plate I! is positioned between the end of 'th'e tubular plug. [Sand shoulder" l8 andfthisplate is'made of any suitable material and is provided with an opening 19. that communicates with a transverse opnifiglil' which extends throughzthe wall of the valve body and is in communication witha copper tube 2! that .iorinsa return conduit andextendstov and opens into the reservoir in the mannershown 'It. is evident that when the pum Pl' 'is operat ing, oil-jlwill flow through the conduit 8, through the T ,9, thence th'rough the opening'in p1ugl5 through opening; l into p'as's'enge'Z!) and from thence through the tube .2! to the oilreservoir. Since-theseconduit's and openings can be made of any size desired} it, is evident that, the oil can circulate without being subjectedto any material pressure and there is therefore verylittle loss of power du'e'to the operation of thel'pump at'ftho'se indicated; H I M Before (resenting further the path r the 'iuoil circulates throughithe pipes I bricating oil, the valve mechanism will now be described.

The valve body 56 has anropening extending" transversely through the same and which is threaded at opposite ends. Plug I5 is threadedly connected at one 'end of this opening and plug 22 is similarly threadedly connected with the other end thereof. Plug 22 is cup-shaped or hollow, and contains a'spring 23, one end of which abuts the movable member 24 which is provided with a conical depression at its center. It will be observed that the valve plate I1 is provided with a center projection 25 that serves as an abutment for the member 26 which cooperates with the member 24 to form a chamber for-the reception of the packing material 21. ,The center 'projee tion of member l. is provided withan opening 28 that extends through the same andwhich com municates with the passage 23.

A valve stem ililpasses through aligned open ings in plug 22 and members 24 and 25 andin;

the end of the projection on member H. The

' end of valve .rnernber'29is conical a's indicated at 30 and serves to close opening i!) when it is moved upwardly into engagement with the wall of this opening. I

Valve member which corresponds to one of nisms shownin valve base It." Positioned incylinder 32 is a piston 33 that is attached by means of threads 34- and a nut '35 with the valve stem 29. Astu'fiing box 36 guides the'valve stem 29 and also serves'to prevent leakage of gas or liquid fromzthe cylindrical space above the iston 33;

A helical spring 33 is positioned between the piston 33 and the bottom'of cylinder 32 and has sufiicient strengthto movethepiston 33 against the frictional resistance opposed by the piston and the valve stem. The openend of cylinder 32 is closed by means of a'threaded plug 31 that is provided on its outer surface with a cylindrical projection 33 having a threaded opening for the 45 reception of thethreaded-plug 39 whichservesto compress the packingmaterial 4|]. stem 4| passes'through openings provided for this purpose in the plug 39 and in the plug 31 andthis can be turned by means of a handwheel 421' The purpose of the threaded stem 4| isto move thev valve stem 23 into valve closing positionwhen ever desired and this is accomplished by rotat-I ingstem 4| in a direction to move it upwardly until its end engages the lower end of the valve stem 29 and by continuing the rotation,it is evident that the valve stem can be moved against the 7 action of spring 36' untilthe conical portion30 engages the valve seat and closes opening 19.

Normally the end of stem 4 I is so positioned that the valve stem 29 can move downwardly into a position in which the opening I9 is unobstructed,v A pipe :43 is connected with. the interior of cylin-" der 32,'as shown in the drawing. Pipe 43 has-- been shown extended by a dotted line, which has been shovrnas connected with the steam engine that operates the stoker. Pipe 44 designates a steam pipe connected with theboiler of the engine and the flow of steam through pipe 44 is controlled by the throttle valve 45. Whenever valve 45 is opened to allow steam to enter the engine I, thepressure of the steam will be communicated to the interior of cylinder 32,1through pipe 43 and the steam pressure. thusintrodu'cejd will move the piston" 33, upwardly, thereby seating the valve 30 andclosingop'ening l3.-

2S isoperate'dby a means which will now be described A body 3 I-is provided with cylindrical openings 32,3211 and b, each of the valve mecha- A threaded in which a constants'tream of oil is flowing throughpipes 8 and 2| and that engine I is idle.

Since the closed path from reservoir 5 to pump Pi and through'the'return conduit 2| offers very little resistance, .itis obvious that no oil will Let us now consider a case in which pump Pl is constantly operating as above described, and

pass to the engine ou -account of'the presence in pipe ||I 0f ithe pressure relief valve; l3. When thethrottle'valve is opened, steam pressure "will be communicated to the engine and to cylinder'32 in the manner already described whereupon the passage through opening |9 will be 'closed and as a'result of this, theoil pressure in {pipes ;8 and I0 willimmediately rise until it acquires asufficient value to open the reliefvalve l3, whereupon oil will begin to flow to the engine. As soon'as the 'throttlefvalve 45 is closed, the steampressure in pipe 43 will decrease, thereupon permitting spring 36 to move the piston 33 downwardly with the result that oil'cannow flow through opening "|9;and return to the r ervoir through pipeilw I j From the above description twill be apparent that when a steam engine is equipped with the lubricating apparatus just described; it will automatically receive lubrication whenever steam pressure is delivered to 'thefengine for operating it and'that as soonasthe throttle valve is. closed and the enginestops, the lubricationfwill also cease. I

Reference numeral 46 designates the engine portion of a feed waterxpump whose-pumptpore tion has beendesignated by reference numeral 5?. Steam is delivered to theengine 46 through 1 a pipe 48 and its flow isicontrolled by athrottle' valve 43. Extending from theTS is a pipe l0 that has two branches ln'afzand lllbthat com.-

municate respectively with'the pump. 41 and the engine 43. A' pressure relief valve 'I3a" prevents oil from flowing except, when the pressurewin T 9 increases overa predetermined amount;

I The waterv leaves'flthe pump through a pipe 'and'connected with this pipe is a pipe; or tube 5t whose other end communicates with the cylinder 32a in the same, manner as pipe 43 communicates withcylinder fl'. I

Pump PZ is constantly operating andnormally produces a flowof oilthrough the pipe 8f through the interior of plug' l 5. through thegzlopening I9 and'thence'through passage 20 and pipe 2| back to the reservoiri. The operation of thesecond valve by means of which the lubrication of a water feed pump is controlled isf as follows:

Whenvalve 49 is opened'to admit steamto the cylinders 43 pump41'will'begin to-op'erate and feed water will be put; under pressure in pipes Tzilland5| whereupon the piston in cylinder 32a will be moved upwardly against the force exerted by spring 36' until valve rod 29 closes opening IS; The pressure of thelloil willnow increase'in pipe 10. until valve jl3a opens andpermits oil to flow throughpipe. Illa and i011 to the feed water pump andto the steam cylinders and lu-' I bricates them;

The thirdvalve, theone j to the right in Fig-f ure 1, is constructed exactlyasfthe other two, but is used for lubricating the air compressor which consists of theqengineportiontz and the air pump 53.' Steam for operating theair pump is supplied through pipe 54;:andits flow is controlled by the throttle valve .55. Pump'P3 delivers oil to the interior-pf the pipe 56, oneend or which connects withfthe T 9 and they other end of which is "connected by meansofa pipe 51 with-the two parts 52 and 530i the aircompressor. A pressure relief valve 58 isconnected between the outlet of T 9 and the aircompressor and resists the flow of oil until the pressure reaches a predetermined value.

On a locomotive, the air pump operates more or less continuously and at times it operates at a Very high speed and must therefore receive a variable amount of lubrication.

With the arrangement illustrated, whenever pump P3 is operating a certain amountof lubrication will be delivered to the air compressor, which amount is limited by a restricted opening R in the passage connecting the pump with the air compressor preferably some place in pipe 55.

When the pump begins to operate at a high speed so as to increase'the air pressure in the high pressure air line '59 beyond a predetermined value, this pressure is communicated through pipe 60 to cylinder 32b and moves the piston 33bv upwardly, thereby closing the opening l9, where-e upon the pressure in pipe 56 will build up until the relief valve 58 opens, whereupon a greater amount of oil will be delivered tothe air compressor. 1

In Figure 2 a cross section of a slightly different form of valve mechanism has been shown. In this embodiment, the part i611 corresponds to the valve body 56 shown in Figure l and the valve stem 29a corresponds to valve stem 29. Instead of a piston 33 a diaphragm 133 is used. The

T 9 may be the same as the one shown. in Figure l and pipes 8 and i0 communicate with the opposite ends of this T. Pressure is delivered to the lower side of the diaphragm through a conduit 43 and the valve can'be manually closed by rotating the wheel 42. Pipe BI and opening Bla are drains through which any liquid or steam that passes the piston or the diaphragm may flow. In the small diagram designated as Figure 3,

the various elements have beenshown in the relationship in which they appear in the drawing so'as to facilitate and simplify an understanding of the system.

It will be observed that in either case the hibricant is directed to the engine or to the pump whenever thelatter operate and is controlledby pressure supplied to these machines either by" the pressure of the steam used to operate the engine portion, or by pressure developed on the delivery sides of the pumps. Since all of the machines shown are steam driven, the pressure I can be obtained from the steam supply pipe between the throttle valve and the engine portion, but in the embodiment illustrated the pressure for controlling the lubrication of the feed water pump. and the air pump has been shown as derived from the delivery sides of these machines.

In case an electric; motor is employed instead of a steam engine, it is evident that the normally open control valve can be closed by means of an electromagnet instead of by the piston and cylinder illustrated, and applicant therefore does not want to be restricted to a pressure operated valve,

but wants it to be understoodthat any mechanical equivalent for this is intended to be covered by the claims.

take port of the pump with the oil in thereser- 75 ,voir, a return conduit connecting the discharge Having described the invention what is claimed as new is: r

1. An automatic lubricating system, comprising, in combination, an oil reservoir, a constant ly operating pump, a conduit connecting the-inportof, the pump with the reservoir, whereby when the pump operates oil will, flow from the reservoir, through the pump andreturn to the reservoir, a normally open valve in the return conduit, a machine to be lubricated, a conduit having. oneendin communication with the re turn conduit between the pump and the valve v and the other end connected with the machine,

a pressure responsive valve in the last named conduit, which prevents oil from flowing to the ,machine when the first mentioned valve is open and which'opens in response. to the increased 'pressuredeveloped when the first valve is closed,

wherebyoil'will flow to themachine, and means responsive to the operation of the machine for closing the normally open valve when the machine operates wherebyoil will be forced into the machine and lubricate the same.

2. An automatic lubricating system, comprising, inrco-mbination, an oil reservoir, a constantly operating pump, a conduit communicating the intake port of the pump with the oil in the "reservoir, a return conduit connecting the discharge port of the pump with the reservoir, whereby when the pump operates, on will flow from the reservoir, through the pump and re-" turn to the reservoir, a normally open pressure responsive valve in the return conduit, a ma-' chine to be lubricated,- a conduit having one end ,incommunication with the return conduit between the pump and the normally open valve and the other end in communication with the machine, means associated with the machine for producing a supply of fluid under pressure whenever the machine operates, and means comprising a conduit for establishing connection between the fluid under pressure and the pressure operated valve, whereby the latter will close whenever the machine operates, and whereby oil will flow to the machine whenever it operates.

3. An automatic lubricating system, comprising, in combination, an oil reservoir, a constant- 1y operating pump, a conduit connecting the intake port of the'pump with the oil in the reservoir, a return conduit connecting the discharge port of the pump with the reservoir,

" whereby when the pump operates, oil will flow from the reservoir, through the pump and return creased pressure developed when said valve is I closed, whereby oil will, flow to the machine, when the pressure operated valve in the return conduit is closed, means associated with the ma-- 7 chine for producing asupply of, fluid under pressure whenever the machineoperates, and means comprising a conduit for establishing a connection between the fluid supply and the normally openvalve for closing the latter whenever the machine operates.

4. A- device in accordance with claim 1 in which manually operable means is provided for closing the normally open valve and to retain it in closed position independently of the operation of the machine.

5. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which manually operable means is provided for closing the normally open valve and to. retain it in closed position-independently of the operation of the machine.

6. A device inaccordance with claim 3 in which manually operable means is provided for closing the normally open valve and to retain it in closed position independently of the operation of the machine.

"I. An automatic lubricating system, comprising in combination, an oil reservoir, a constantly operating pump, a conduit connecting the intake port of the pump with the oil in the reservoir, a return conduit connecting the discharge port of the pump with the tank, whereby when the pump operates oil will flow from the reservoir, through the pump and return to the reservoir, a normally open valve in the return conduit, a machine to be lubricated, a conduit having one end in communication with the return conduit between the pump and the valve, 2. pressure responsive relief valve in the last named conduit open valve whereby sufiicient pressure is produced to open the relief valve and permit an additional amount ofoil to flow to the machine. Y

' PAUL F. GIESKIENG. 

